Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.

I had 4 babies in a 6yr period! My youngest is just now 5 months. Thas why I have that stretched skin. Right now I'm 176lbs. I have lost 20lbs since July. my BMI whatever says I should be 135 for my height 5"4'. No matter how well I workout that saggy mommy pouch will always be there. my hubby said (I asked him, not the other way around) I could get a tummy tuck when I get to 140, and I have to maintain 140 for atleast 6mos I think. Then when the skin comes off I'll lose a few more pounds from that. I am 28 so I am trying to burn it off while before my metabolism slows down!

When someone loses a lot of weight, why do some firm up their loose skin, but many others have to have surgery to get rid of it? I wouldn't be able to afford surgery, but all of that loose skin is disgusting. Does it depend on your age, and how much you exercise, the amount of elasticity? I've also heard that it can take years for it to firm up. Does anyone know for sure?

I always thought the problem was that these people lost a lot of weight too fast through dieting without exercise. Exercise, a full body workout, is the way to tighten up loose skin.

When someone loses a lot of weight, why do some firm up their loose skin, but many others have to have surgery to get rid of it? I wouldn't be able to afford surgery, but all of that loose skin is disgusting. Does it depend on your age, and how much you exercise, the amount of elasticity? I've also heard that it can take years for it to firm up. Does anyone know for sure?

I think it depends on HOW you lose the weight. I have two friends who were both extremely overweight (morbidly obese is what the doctor said). One was advised by her doctor to have the gastric bypass surgery and the other committed to a life changing (lucky for her and her children) practice of weight training, eating right and exercise. The one who had the surgery lost weight very rapidly and ended up with that unsightly extra skin. The other took a bit more than a year to lose almost the same amount of weight and had NO extra skin.

I think (but am no 100% sure ) that the skin problem is a result from bypass surgery $$ and can only be resolved with more surgery $$. Natural, healthy weight loss based on exercise and healthy diet (which is more time consuming) does NOT tend to leave extra skin.

Losing the weight after having babies is pretty much the same thing. Its best done with diet and exercise. Look at Pamela Anderson, Victoria Beckham, Madonna and Shoanna Moakler - these women all had children and were able to lose the extra weight with exercise. Its hard work but well worth it.

keep in mind that the skin is 3-7 months behind the fat loss and needs time to shrink around the muscles,drink lots of water, lift some iron,get some sun.Thats all you can due ,age and how long it was stretched will determine how it goes back!

Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.